15 Retro Louisiana Seafood Shacks Still Serving The Same Dishes Since The ’70s
Across Louisiana, old-school shacks and restaurants continue serving the same recipes they perfected decades ago, proving that sometimes the best things never need updating.
Trust me, I can tell you from my own rich experience that there’s nothing quite like biting into a dish that tastes exactly like it did when your grandparents were young.
Exactly these fifteen places have survived trends, floods, and changing tastes by doing one thing brilliantly: staying true to their roots and serving honest, delicious seafood the way Louisiana intended.
1. Casamento’s — New Orleans
White tiles, tin ceilings, and a menu that refuses to change make this place feel like stepping through a time portal. Oyster loaves arrive golden and crackling, stuffed with plump bivalves that crunch perfectly on the first bite.
Raw, fried, or floating in a creamy stew, oysters dominate every plate here. The family has kept the same suppliers and techniques since opening, which explains why locals guard this spot like a delicious secret.
Seasonal closures during summer months keep anticipation high, making September openings feel like neighborhood holidays worth celebrating properly.
2. Middendorf’s — Manchac & Slidell
Perched over marsh grasses that sway with the breeze, this restaurant has perfected thin-fried catfish into an art form. Each fillet arrives impossibly crispy, almost transparent, crackling audibly when you break it apart.
I remember my first visit here, watching egrets hunt while waiting for my order, thinking life doesn’t get much better.
The recipe hasn’t budged since the place opened, and regulars will tell you their grandparents ate the exact same catfish on Sunday drives decades ago.
Two locations now serve this legendary dish, but the marsh views and family atmosphere remain wonderfully unchanged.
3. Deanie’s Seafood — Bucktown & French Quarter
Bucktown fishing traditions live on through platters piled so high they barely fit on tables. Boiled potatoes come dusted in spicy red seasoning, sitting alongside mountains of fried seafood that crunch with every bite.
The market-to-table approach means everything tastes ocean-fresh, just like it did when fishermen first started gathering in this neighborhood.
Multiple locations now spread the Bucktown gospel, but the original spirit remains intact. Portions are generous enough to share, though most people find themselves selfishly guarding their plates once the eating starts in earnest.
4. Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar — New Orleans
Marble counters worn smooth by decades of elbows frame the action here, where shuckers slide briny oysters across with practiced ease.
Operating since the 1940s, this place has seen generations belly up for the same simple pleasure: cold, fresh bivalves straight from the Gulf.
The rhythm never changes – order, watch the shucking show, slurp, repeat. I’ve sat at this bar during quiet Tuesday afternoons and packed Saturday nights, and somehow the experience always feels exactly right.
Raw oysters taste like the sea should taste, with that perfect mineral sweetness that keeps people coming back religiously.
5. Acme Oyster House — New Orleans
Founded in 1910 and re-established on Iberville Street in 1924, Acme Oyster House’s neon lights beckon oyster lovers into this legendary establishment.
Ice-cold trays arrive loaded with pristine raw specimens, while the char-grill pumps out smoky, buttery perfume that fills entire blocks.
Lines snake around corners during peak times, but regulars know the wait delivers worthwhile rewards.
The combination of old New Orleans atmosphere and consistently excellent oysters creates an experience tourists and locals equally treasure.
Standing at the bar, slurping oysters while strangers become friends over shared appreciation, captures something essential about this city’s soul and spirit.
6. Domilise’s Po-Boys & Bar — New Orleans
Leidenheimer bread arrives split and stuffed with your choice of fried shrimp or oysters, dressed fully with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayo.
Most people eat standing at the counter because sitting feels too formal for this neighborhood institution.
Conversations flow easily here, with regulars chatting like family while newcomers quickly get pulled into the friendly atmosphere.
The formula hasn’t changed because it never needed to – good bread, fresh seafood, proper dressing, and genuine hospitality create perfection.
Each bite tastes like New Orleans should taste, honest and delicious without any pretense or unnecessary complications whatsoever.
7. Drago’s Seafood — Metairie & New Orleans
Since 1969, this family operation has been perfecting flame-kissed oysters that drip with garlic butter and herbs. The dish sparked countless imitators across the region, but the original still reigns supreme in flavor and execution.
I’ve watched people order a dozen, devour them instantly, then sheepishly order another round because restraint becomes impossible.
Family vibes permeate the dining rooms, where multiple generations work together, maintaining the standards that made this place famous.
Beyond the signature oysters, the menu offers solid Creole-Italian seafood that showcases Louisiana’s unique cultural blend beautifully and authentically.
8. Mandina’s — New Orleans (Mid-City)
Pink paint makes this Mid-City landmark impossible to miss, while inside, hot plates carry trout amandine and meunière that taste exactly like Friday seafood has tasted for decades.
Almonds toast to a perfect golden brown, butter sauce pools around tender fillets, and everything arrives piping hot.
Neighborhood regulars claim their favorite tables like personal property, creating a dining room atmosphere that feels more like extended family gatherings.
The restaurant survived flooding and rebuilding while maintaining the same commitment to classic Creole preparations.
Eating here connects you to generations of New Orleanians who considered this their special-occasion seafood destination.
9. Liuzza’s by the Track — New Orleans
Fair Grounds race track crowds have been piling into this spot for decades, especially for the signature BBQ Shrimp po-boy.
Buttery, peppery sauce soaks into French bread while plump shrimp nestle inside, creating the kind of mess that requires multiple napkins and zero regrets.
The dish represents New Orleans creativity at its finest – taking a classic preparation and stuffing it into sandwich form for maximum deliciousness. I’ve eaten this po-boy on race days and quiet weekdays, and it never disappoints.
Casual atmosphere and friendly service make everyone feel welcome, whether you’re a neighborhood regular or a first-time visitor discovering something special.
10. Perino’s Boiling Pot — Harvey (West Bank)
Spicy steam perfumes the entire room when boils arrive at the table, heaped with crabs, shrimp, corn, and potatoes.
This West Bank neighborhood institution traces its seafood roots back to the early 1970s, and the Boiling Pot has been serving piles of seasoned shellfish since the 1990s, building loyal followings across generations.
Tables get covered with newspaper, bibs get tied on, and everyone digs in with their hands for the full Louisiana experience.
I love how boils bring people together, forcing conversation and laughter while you’re elbow-deep in seasoned shellfish.
The family atmosphere makes everyone feel like regulars, even on their first visit to this Harvey landmark.
11. Don’s Seafood — Statewide (orig. Lafayette)
Since 1934, family recipes have guided this operation that now spans multiple locations statewide.
Gumbo arrives dark as mahogany, rich with seafood and the kind of depth that only comes from patient roux-making and generations of practice.
Fried seafood platters taste like Acadiana weekends should taste – crispy, generous, and completely satisfying. The expansion across Louisiana happened because people demanded access to these flavors beyond Lafayette.
Despite growth, each location maintains the standards that made the original famous. Sunday lunches here feel like gathering with extended family, complete with multiple generations sharing tables and stories.
12. Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf — Henderson
River-road location and dance-hall memories make this 1948 landmark a true time capsule of Louisiana dining.
Platters arrive loaded, étouffée comes rich and perfectly spiced, and the whole experience feels like stepping into your grandparents’ favorite weekend destination.
The restaurant carries on traditions that include live music and genuine Cajun hospitality alongside excellent seafood preparations.
Sitting near windows overlooking the Atchafalaya Basin, eating crawfish étouffée while watching the water, captures something essential about Louisiana’s relationship with its waterways.
Generations have celebrated special occasions here, creating layers of family memories within these walls.
13. Tony’s Seafood Market & Deli — Baton Rouge
Part seafood market, part steam-table paradise, this Baton Rouge institution serves the kind of plate lunches families remember from childhood.
Crawfish boils happen fresh, fried catfish comes hot from the fryer, and everything tastes like home cooking at its finest.
I’ve grabbed lunch here countless times, always impressed by the quality and portions that never disappoint.
The market side means you can also buy seafood to cook at home, though eating the ready-made dishes often wins out.
Locals know to arrive early for the best selection, as popular items disappear quickly during lunch rushes and weekend crowds.
14. Mosca’s — Avondale/Westwego
Low lighting and roadhouse atmosphere create the perfect setting for family-style Italian-Creole seafood that locals absolutely revere.
Oysters Mosca and Shrimp Mosca arrive glistening with garlic, herbs, and breadcrumbs, unchanged on purpose because perfection needs no updates.
The menu stays small and focused, with each dish representing generations of family tradition and technique. Reservations are essential because word has spread despite the out-of-the-way location near the river.
Eating here feels like being invited to a family dinner where the family happens to cook better than almost anyone else in Louisiana.
15. Short Stop Po-Boys — Metairie
Since 1966, this counter has been turning out oyster and shrimp po-boys with the easy rhythm of a well-worn neighborhood classic.
Dressed however you prefer, each sandwich arrives on fresh bread with properly fried seafood that crunches satisfyingly.
The name suggests quick service, and the operation delivers without sacrificing quality or flavor.
Regulars have their orders memorized by staff who’ve worked here for years, creating the kind of comfortable familiarity that makes great neighborhood restaurants special.
Nothing fancy happens here, just honest po-boys made right, which turns out to be exactly what people want and keep coming back for religiously.